IBM and Burberry develop prototype system for product traceability

As part of its Extreme Blue internship programme, IBM has collaborated with Burberry to develop a prototype system that aims to improve product traceability.

The theme for this year’s programme was “Sustainability in Fashion”.

Partaking students were tasked with designing, developing, and testing an innovative new product for an IBM client. Over the past three months, they worked with Burberry’s digital experts to develop the prototype system.

Named Voyage, it uses IBM Public Cloud and the IBM Blockchain platform to gather data that might in future allow consumers to trace a garment’s production journey and lifecycle, while learning more about the processes involved in its creation. It was designed by the interns to be trialled for functionality in Burberry’s mobile app.

Voyage works by identifying a product through scanning a near-field communication tag or entering a product ID, before outlining a product’s development journey.

People can configure their own sustainability preferences and receive tailored product recommendations. Users might also add information about a product’s journey to include additional stages in its lifecycle such as recycling and upcycling.

Mark McClennon, Chief Information Officer at Burberry, says: “The passion and creativity that IBM’s Extreme Blue interns showed in developing a prototype solution for a longstanding industry challenge was exceptional.”

“We are delighted to have supported the interns in tackling this challenge, as cross-functional collaboration across industries is crucial to building a more sustainable future and inspiring the next generation of sustainably minded innovators.”

Luq Niazi, Global Managing Director at IBM Consumer Industries, comments: “We hope that both the students’ experiences and this prototype can inspire new ideas around tackling sustainability and traceability for the fashion industry."